What Is a Frequency-To-Voltage Converter?
A frequency-to-voltage converter is a device that converts frequency into voltage in direct relation to the rotation or movement speed. This converter is crucial for monitoring and analyzing frequency changes, and its inverse version is known as a VF converter.
These converters are vital in applications such as hybrid and electric vehicle motors and high-speed production lines in manufacturing plants. They effectively measure start-up characteristics, fluctuations in rotation during steady operation, and transient phenomena in flow velocity changes.
Uses of Frequency-To-Voltage Converters
Frequency-to-voltage converters are essential for converting invisible frequency into voltage. When used with an AD converter, they transform analog signals, susceptible to noise, into digital values, facilitating long-distance transmission. Common applications include motor performance tests, rotational fluctuation measurements of engines and motors, and overload-induced performance tests.
Principle of Frequency-To-Voltage Converters
In frequency-to-voltage converters, a decaying pulse signal generates a voltage signal corresponding to the pulse frequency. These converters employ both analog and digital channels for signal processing. A sensor-generated signal creates a gate signal at the comparator, which integrates clock counts during its open/close period. The counter contents are then converted to an analog signal via a D/A converter.
Types of Frequency-To-Voltage Converters
Various types of converters are available, including multi-channel measurement devices and small-amplitude signal detectors for rotational speed analysis. They offer predictive calculations for smooth output during deceleration, aiding in drive unit behavior analysis.
Some models support high input frequencies and wide input amplifier bandwidths, aligning with the trend toward multi-pulse rotary encoders.
Other Information on Frequency-To-Voltage Converters
1. Filtering
These converters come with integrated low-pass filtering or programmable filtering options, allowing selective signal frequency passage based on set thresholds.
2. Rapid Deceleration Tracking Function
Certain frequency-to-voltage converters feature a rapid deceleration tracking function, which halts rotational output if no input is detected for longer than the previous pulse interval during sudden deceleration. The analog output response depends on whether the follow-up function is active or not.
3. Trigger Function
These converters can perform F/V conversion with a one-pulse response proportional to frequency upon receiving a triggerable voltage pulse signal. The trigger level is user-specifiable within a certain range.
4. Linearity
Frequency-to-voltage converters provide a DC voltage proportional to frequency, but linearity can vary across frequency ranges. To maintain linearity, especially in high-frequency bandwidths, some models feature a rapid discharge path for the circuit’s capacitor.